My Class Teacher

Thinking back of a blackboard scratched by chalks
Thinking back how strong the teacher stood in front
To demand attention from the students

Terngiang kembali pada sebuah papan hitam tergoreskan kapur
Terngiang betapa gagah sang guru berdiri didepannya
Memaksa perhatian dari muridnya

The corner at the back was where I sat
I let thousands of whip hit my back
I let many foots crush me
I let the poor voice scream into my ear and
I let the gentle and rough hands attack me
Yes…..finally I let myself struggle whit what I can do

Sudut pojok belakang adalah kediaman aku
Kubiarkan ribuan cambuk menyabit- nyabit punggung ku
Kubiarkan puluhan kaki menerjang ku
Kubiarkan suara- suara papa memekik telinga ku serta
Kubiarkan tangan- tangan lembut dan kasar menyambar ku
Ya…… akhirnya ku terbiarkan berjuang bersama apa yang ku mampu

Space by space of the table I passed
In time and seasons
Till once I was in the second line table in the front
Only if it can be considered as the front

Space demi space meja kulewati
Dalam waktu dan masa
Hingga suatu ketika berada pada meja dua terdepan
Seandainya bisa disebutkan terdepan

A gentle voice greeted me
I heard it
And saw it
He was always be as a motivator
Not in the front as the fortress
Yes….that’s him, who had shifted me
From the back to the front
From the valley to the peak
From darkness to down
From marginal to urban
From the mud of swamp to the swimming pool, that’s all

Suara lembut menyapa
Aku mendengar nya
Dan melihatnya
Ia selalu sebagai motivator
Bukan di depan sebagai pembenteng
Ya…Ia- lah yang telah memindahkan aku
Dari belakang ke depan
Dari lembah ke puncak
Dari gelap ke terang
Dari merginal ke urban
Dari Lumpur kubangan ke kolam renang, demikianlah

He was indeed my teacher of love
He was indeed my teacher of marcy
He was indeed my teacher of affection
He was indeed my teacher of hope
He was indeed my teacher of my shadow
And he was the teacher who passed his relay stick to me, he said “go on to the finish line in the front and just ignore me, let me behind you as the light of your future”
How wise the advice is heard

Dia –lah guru cinta ku
Dia –lah guru kasih ku
Dia –lah guru sayang ku
Dia –lah guru harapan ku

Dia –lah guru bayangan ku
Dan dia –lah guru pewaris tongkat estapet ditanganku, Ia berkata
“Ayo lanjutkan finis di depan mu jangan hiraukan aku
biarkan aku berada di belakang mu sebagai cahaya masa depan mu”
bijaksana terdengar petuah itu

Oh my teacher of love, hope, and affection
Now, I am home and ask you to receive a dedication of my winning cup
Bring my cup to the collection room of your soul
My success is your hard efforts

Wahai sang guru cintaku, harapanku, sayangku
Kini ku kembali ‘ntuk meminta mu menerima persembahan piala kemenangan ku
Bawalah piala ku kedalam bilik koleksi jiwa mu
Keberhasilan ku adalah jerih payah mu.

Yogyakarta 27 November 1995